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On March 3, 1875, President Ulysses S. Grant signed Mackinac National Park into law, creating the second national park in the United States, three years after Yellowstone. This act set aside more than 50% of Mackinac Island for the enjoyment of the public, where they could enjoy the island’s natural beauty and historical significance. It was the creation of the national park that set the stage for the Mackinac Island we know and love today.
The nation’s first national park was created at Yellowstone in Wyoming in 1872. The following year, Senator Thomas Ferry of Michigan, who was born on the island in 1827, introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate instructing the Secretary of War to study the proposition of setting aside a portion of Mackinac Island as a national park. About half the island was federal land and the park would include nearly all of this, save for Fort Mackinac and a small military reservation surrounding it. The proposal, fully supported by the army, worked its way through both the Senate and the House, with little opposition. Factors working in favor included that the government already owned the land and that army troops were available to care for it. President Grant signed the measure into law on March 3, 1875.
Additional resources:
Mackinac National Park
The Officers of Fort Mackinac
Archaeology – Fort Mackinac and Mackinac Island State Park archaeology contain several artifacts relating to the national park.
Daily Program Learn the story of Mackinac National Park in the place that served as headquarters for the park: Fort Mackinac. This daily (10:30 a.m. May 2-June 6, 11:00 a.m. June 7-October 25) program will introduce the rise of tourism on Mackinac Island and how the island and fort have been preserved.
Learn more here. Fort Mackinac admission required.
The creation of Mackinac National Park brought a host of questions: where, exactly, were the national park lands? What would the soldiers do to maintain it? How would the park be paid for? How would people navigate the park? How would the famous natural curiosities be protected? Join our interpretive staff for a series of special events exploring these topics and more throughout the summer. All events are free and require no pre-registration. Donations welcome. All tours begin at the Fort Mackinac Avenue of Flags.
June 25, 5:30 p.m. Welcome to Mackinac National Park.
Mackinac National Park was created in 1875 as the United States’ second national park, three years after Yellowstone. What were some features of the national park? Why did the park get created? Join Interpretation Coordinator Jack Swartzinski for a guided bike ride through the former Mackinac National Park to learn about how Mackinac National Park came to be. Guests must provide their own bicycle. Learn more.
July 22, 5:30 p.m. Cottages of Mackinac Island
Mackinac National Park was created in 1875. However, the question of how the amenities of such a park would be paid for persisted. One solution was to grant leaseholds on the East and West Bluffs. Since the 1840s wealthy island visitors had expressed interest in constructing cottages on the bluffs of Mackinac Island. By 1882 Captain Edwin Sellers reported that more than seven leases had been executed, and in 1885 the first summer cottages went up on the bluff. Join Chief Curator Craig Wilson for a walking tour of the East Bluff, pointing out historic cottages, and digging deeper into the unique relationship that dates back to Mackinac National Park. This walking tour will cover about a mile in total. Learn more.
August 20, 3:00 p.m. Discover Sugar Loaf
Join naturalist Kyle Bagnall on a guided walk to explore one of Mackinac Island’s oldest and most iconic rock formations. In August 1894, Major Clarence Bennet issued a warning to guests of Mackinac National Park – anyone found guilty of defacing Sugar Loaf would be expelled from the park! On this easy two-mile walk, we’ll explore the geology and celebrity of this famous attraction, even uncovering evidence of 19th century vandalism. Learn more.
September 23, 5:30 p.m. Soldiers in the Park
As the idea for Mackinac National Park was being debated in the Senate and House in the mid-1870s, the idea had a few factors working in its favor: one, the U.S. government already owned the land; and two, the troops garrisoned at Fort Mackinac could care for the grounds, which would help ease and significant cost required for park maintenance. Did it work out this way? And what did the soldiers do in the park? Join Mackinac State Historic Parks Chief Curator Craig Wilson for a guided bike ride through the former Mackinac National Park as he explains life for soldiers working in Mackinac National Park. Guests must provide their own bicycle. Learn more.
The historic island fort is decked out in patriotic finery with banners, flags and bunting. It is an 1880’s Independence Day, with 38-gun salutes honoring the states of the period and children’s games. Guests join the party and participate in games on the fort parade ground.
Don’t miss out on this all 1880s Independence Day as we have catch and baseball available on the parade ground to go along with foot races and sack races, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, the raising of the colors, the national salute (38 rifle blasts for the 38 states of the 1880s!), a cannon salute, and much more!
Games will be available on the parade ground beginning at 3:30 p.m. Special programming will take place at 4:00 p.m.
The Tea Room Restaurant, operated by Grand Hotel, is open all day serving snacks, sweets, and beverages, and will have full lunch service from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
All special programming is included with regular admission to Fort Mackinac. Click here to learn more about the event.
Mackinac State Historic Parks, working with Ivory Tree Media (the same company that created Mackinac: Our Famous Island) have created a half-hour documentary on Mackinac National Park. The documentary will play throughout the day at Fort Mackinac in the new Theater inside the Soldiers’ Barracks. It will also be available online and on this website. Watch this space for a trailer of the documentary.
Iconic MackinacInside The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, located in Marquette Park in front of Fort Mackinac, the juried art exhibition, Iconic Mackinac, will open in the second floor changing gallery. 150 years ago the many icons of Mackinac Island prompted the creation of Mackinac National Park. This protected icons such as Fort Mackinac, Fort Holmes, Arch Rock, Sugar Loaf and others, and spurred the creation of icons such as Grand Hotel and the East and West Bluff Cottages. Artists were invited to share their visions of Iconic Mackinac in any medium. The gallery is open May 9-October 5.
Own the Official BookMackinac National Park: 1875-1895, by Keith R. Widder. In the short history of Mackinac National Park no attempt has been made to compare it with Yellowstone or the three parks established in 1890 – Yosemite, General Grant and Sequoia in California. However, several features about Mackinac made it quite different from the others. Author Keith Widder served as Curator of History for Mackinac State Historic Parks from 1971-1997. Available at the Official Mackinac State Park Store inside the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center and at the Fort Mackinac Museum Store.
As with any good anniversary celebration, special merchandise will be available at The Official Mackinac Island State Park Store inside the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center as well as the Fort Mackinac Museum Store.
In addition, visitors to Mackinac Island can expect special signs and flags celebrating the anniversary at the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center and Fort Mackinac throughout 2025.
